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Box Score (PDF)

AUSTIN, Texas – The Ohio women's basketball team (6-4, 0-0 MAC) fell to Texas (6-4, 0-0 Big 12), 73-60, on Wednesday evening at the Erwin Center. 

Ohio was led by junior guard Cece Hooks (Dayton, Ohio), who had 21 points and a season-high seven steals. Hooks added four assists and a rebound in 35 minutes of play. Hooks was 7-of-20 from the floor and 7-of-12 from the free throw line.

Junior forward Gabby Burris (Baltimore, Ohio) and redshirt junior guard Katie Barker (Cary, Ill.) each had 12 points for OU. Barker was 4-of-9 from the three-point line while Burris was 4-of-5 from the floor and hit the two threes she took.

Junior guard Amani Burke (Columbus, Ohio) had eight points for Ohio while graduate transfer forward Maddie Bazelak (Dayton, Ohio) had a career-high five points for Ohio in 15 minutes on the floor.

OU forced Texas to turn the ball over 24 times and had 10 steals. Hooks' season-high of seven was Ohio's high while Burris, Burke and freshman guard Peyton Guice (Westerville, Ohio) had one. Ohio turned the ball over 17 times.

Ohio was in foul trouble after committing 24 during the game. Both Burke and sophomore forward Deesh Beck (Grand Rapids, Mich.) fouled out of the game, while Hooks and Barker ended with four fouls.

The Bobcats were outrebounded 52-25. Ohio had nine offensive boards while UT had 24. Burris paced the Cats with eight while Barker had four. Redshirt sophomore Caitlyn Kroll (Bridgeport, Ohio) and Bazelak each pulled in two caroms.

Overall, Ohio shot 36.8 percent (21-of-57) from the field and 6-of-21 (28.6 percent) from the field while Texas was 28-of-66 (42.4 percent) and 5-of-18 (27.8 percent) from deep. The Bobcats were 12-of-19 (63.2 percent) from the free throw line while UT was 12-of-18 (66.7 percent).

Ohio was down 35-29 after the first half. The Bobcats were 12-of-30 (40.0 percent) from the field and made three from behind the arc. Hooks led the way with 14 points while Barker had six after making two threes. Burris had three points after one three. OU started the game on a 5-0 run after a Hooks steal and Barker three. Barker then got the lead back to five with 5:25 left in the first quarter with another from behind the arc. Texas tied the game at 12-12 with 3:47 left and the pushed the lead to four to end the first quarter up 18-14.

UT held Ohio scoreless in the second frame until 5:32 when Kroll ended a 9-0 Texas run. Ohio chipped away and Burris buried a three with 2:32 left in the quarter to get the Texas lead down to 31-27. A couple buckets from Texas and one Hooks layup gave the Longhorns a 35-29 lead into the half.

Texas outscored 38-31 in the second half. The Bobcats were 9-of-27 (33.3.percent) from the field and 3-of-11 (27.3 percent) from deep. OU was led by Burris with nine, while Hooks had seven points. The Bobcats shot 12 of their 19 free throws in the fourth quarter, and knocked down eight. Texas started on a small run that gave them a 42-29 lead before a 7-0 run for Ohio – capped by a Burris triple with 6:42 left – put Ohio down 42-36. However, Texas was able to end the third quarter on a 6-0 run of their own and got the lead up to 52-42.

The Bobcats were able to cut that advantage in half to 56-50 with 8:52 left after a Barker fast break three, but OU couldn't any closer and Texas won the game, 73-60. 

Ohio will wrap up nonconference play on Sunday, Dec. 29 at Chattanooga. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.

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